Gearing.



J. R. TRIGWELL.

GEARING' APPLIOATION IIL13D MAY 18, 1907.

961,561 a Patented June 14, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. 'R. TEIGWELL.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1907.

961,561., I Patented June 14, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW u GRAHAM c0. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPNERS. WASMNGYDN, 0,1:

UNITE STAT PATT @FFIQE.

JAMES R. TRIGWELL, OF MITCHAM LANE, ENGLAND.

GEARING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. TRIGWELL, a subject of the King of England,residing in Mitcham Lane, in the county of Surrey and Kingdom ofEngland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in or connected with motor-drivenVelocipedes of that type in which the motor is brought into action fordriving the velocipede by means of a friction disk driven by chain orthe like from the engine, which disk is brought into engagement with afriction rim upon the wheel.

This invention has for its object to provide a velocipede with a motorwhich is adapted to be connected in an improved manner and automaticallywith the driving gear and disconnected therefrom by the rider at will,thereby providing a driving gear free from the motor and enabling thevelocipede to be propelled by the feet of the rider acting upon theusual pedals and gearing connected therewith.

As an example I have described the invention in connection with anordinary safety bicycle in which the rear wheel is chain driven andpreferably provided with a free wheel clutch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevation of an ordinarycycle fitted with the general arrangement according to my invention.Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the driving friction disk and parts inconnection therewith, while Fig. 3 is a further view partly intransverse section of such driving friction disk and parts.

Referring to the drawings, upon the rear wheel of the bicycle is mounteda friction ring a which may be identical with those used with flat beltsin motor cycles and secured to the rear wheel in a similar manner.

In connection with the inner side or face of the ring a is provided adriving friction disk or wheel I) carried by the forked end 0 of a lever(Z; or one of the prongs of the fork 0 might be dispensed with if sodesired. Such lever d is between its forked ends pivotally mounted upona stud e laterally projecting from a divided clip f fixed upon one ofthe chain stays g or frame of the bicycle. The clip 7 carrying theforked lever is divided into two parts to enable it to be Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1907.

Patented June 14, 15nd,

Serial No. 374,358.

passed over the chain stay 9 and it is connected together by screws.

The lever is formed at each prong c of its fork with an open ended slot(or a perforation) to receive the spindle 72, of the driving frictiondisk or wheel I) which is constructed of two or more disks 2' of leatheror frictional material which are clamped between two axially perforateddisks or plates of metal j by means of screws, rivets or bolts 3 andupon one of said plates is secured a sprocket wheel is; or the lattermight be employed in lieu of one of the disks or plates. The necessarycones and cups with ball bearings may be provided for the said sprocketwheel and disk. The spindle h which is placed within the open endedslots of the forked lever is fixed in position by means of a nut lscrewing upon each end of such spindle and bearing upon the outer edgesof said slots and by the cones bearing upon the opposite edges of saidslots. The forked ends are recessed to receive washers Z which act tokeep the spindle central. If desired the spindle it might be fixed withthe sprocket wheel is and run in ball bearings fixed with the ends ofthe lever.

The extermity of the lever cZ opposite to the fork c is preferably by aflexible wire such as a Bowden wire m shown in the specification ofUnited States Patent No. 609570 or any other suitable connection, fixedto a short lever 02 or movable handle grip mounted upon the handle-barof the steering wheel or other suitable part of the cycle. A spring 0attached to the forked lever adjacent and opposite to the flexible wireand fixed at its other end to the chain stay 9 acts to keep the frictiondisk I) autoinatically in contact with its coacting r111 a.

I referably .upon the down tube 19 of the bicycle is mounted a small orother suitable motor 9 upon the main shaft 1" of which is fixed asprocket wheel .9 which by a chain 25 is connected with the sprocketwheel is upon the friction disk I). By these means a rider can byactuating the short lever n or handle grip cause the forked lever cl toturn upon its axis and throw the friction disk In out of gear orengagement with the friction ring a and there retain it when the bicyclecan be used in the ordinary manner by pedaling only, and withoutadditional friction as the friction gearing is quite independent of thepedal gearing. vSuflicient slackness is provided in the adjustment ofthe chain to allow of contact'between the friction surfaces being brokenas the distance apart required is very slight in flat surfaces.

By allowing the spring 0 upon the end of the forked lever to act andcause the friction disk to bear with a spring pressure upon the ring athe latter will be driven by the friction disk by means of the chainfrom the motor, and, since the pull of the motor upon the chain is inthe direction in which the disk moves to engage the ring, the chain actsautomatically to increase the pressure of the disk against the ring in"proportion to the strength of'this pull, thereby giving additional powerand aiding the rider to ascend steep hills or proceed against head windswith comparative ease. Or if desired the motor alone might be run withthe rider resting his feet upon the pedals in cases where circumstancespermit.

It will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable tovelocipedes provided with a greater number of wheels than two. Ifdesired I might run the lever carrying the fork and holding the frictiondisk direct to the top tube ofthe frame, the length of thelever actingas sufficient spring when the friction disk is held in contact with thefriction ring.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. In a motor-driven velocipede, the combination of a motor, atransmission-chain actuated thereby, a friction drivin -ring, afriction-disk adapted to contact with the internal face of thefriction-ring and driven by the chain, and means for bringing the saiddisk out of and into contact with the internal face of saidfriction-ring.

2. In a motor driven velocipede, the combination of a friction ring, asprocket wheel,

a friction disk secured to said sprocket wheel and in frictional contactwith said ring, said disk together with said sprocket wheel beingmovable toward and away from said ring, a motor having a sprocket wheeland a sprocket-chain around said sprocket wheel and pulling on theperiphery of said first named sprocket wheel substantially in thedirection of the motion of said disk toward said ring.

3. In a motor driven velocipede, the combination of a friction ring, arocking arm, a friction disk and a sprocket wheel secured together androtatably mounted on one end of said rocking arm, said rocking arm beingpivotally mounted to permit said disk to be moved in the plane of saidring into and out of contact with said ring, a motor, and a sprocketchain from said motor pulling on said sprocket wheel in the direction ofthe movement of said disk toward said ring.

4:. In a motor driven velocipede, the combination of a friction ring, arocking arm, a friction disk and a sprocket wheel secured together androtatably mounted on one end of said rocking arm, said rocking arm beingpivotally mounted to permit said disk to be moved in the plane of saidring into and out of contact with said ring, a motor, a sprocket chainfrom said motor pulling on said sprocket wheel in the direction of themovement of said disk toward said ring, additional meansfor holding thedisk in contact with said ring and means for moving said disk out ofcontact with said ring.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my'invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. R. TRIGWELL.

\Vitnesses J. S. ARTHER, E. CRESWIOK.

